The 10 Brand Test-Drive: Lessons From Driving Aston Martins to VWs
The best part of my job, let’s face it, is test-driving. It’s almost ridiculous that my occupation involves writing my opinion after driving the newest vehicles. It is, I’m not gonna lie, completely awesome. But it is even better when I’m invited to events that allow me to see what’s trending and what’s new across many automakers. This was the case last week when I went to Heels & Wheels 2017, an all-female automotive event in Portland, Oregon.
To be fair, there were actually more than 10 automakers, but a girl can only handle so much fun in 48 hours. But what’s really shocking is how much I learned in this short amount of time. Here goes:
Less Dough, Less Go? No Mo!
I drove everything from a $240k Aston Martin to a $24k Mazda CX-5. Normally, because I’m a car snob and a performance girl, I would just gravitate towards the most expensive car because that usually translates into the most fun behind the wheel. Of course, the DB11 was amazing. It took every cell in my body not to drive to Canada and change my name. But I also found plenty of fun in the adorable Kia Niro Hybrid, the VW Alltrack and the Pacifica plug in hybrid. (That’s right, I said a fun minivan. Deal with it.)
These Aren’t Your Mama’s Safety Features
A few years ago, safety innovations were everything. Look at our airbags! Look at the sideview cameras! We’ve got sensors all over the place! Now that sensors have become common place and airbags are everywhere, we know that the last mile of safety isn’t about the car. It’s about being a better driver and staying off of the phone. So now we expect stuff like Moving Object Detection in the Nissan Rogue Sport and Parking Assistance in the VW Atlas.
Innovation Insanity Is Here
But that doesn’t mean that automakers aren’t thinking of new ways to keep us safer and smarter behind the wheel. Forget something in your backseat? Not when you’re driving a new GMC Acadia Denali, with Rear Seat Reminder that senses when you’ve left something behind. Don’t think you need that? Why don’t you ask that gallon of milk that fell out of your shopping bag. Yeah, you’re welcome.
Apple Play Rules
As someone that test drives a lot, I knew this to be true. But after a day of getting into car after car ajd being frustrated with stupid technology, all I wanted was to see my old familiar Apple interface. Read me my texts, give me my apps and just make connecting easier. I even caught an automotive rep giving up on her car’s navigation and asking Google. No kidding. It’s pretty simple car makers: When you need digital technology, let the geeks take over. It’s what they do best.
Kids These Days (Eye Roll)
Another astonishing thing about driving all of these cars was how much they clearly consider what’s happening in the back seat. Even in the $40k Pacifica Hybrid minivan, little monsters get captain’s chairs, individual screens, headphones and backseat games courtesy of Chrysler. In my day, we were lucky to get seat belts...
And finally...
Money Does Buy Stuff
And I like that stuff. A lot. Like the smell of hand stitched leather inside an Aston Martin, the idiot-proof luxury of the 4WD Lexus GX460. I also dig the fat, wide, mean stance of the Jaguar F-Pace. I especially like the way my face froze into a perma-smile after checking the 0-60 capabilities of that DB11. Those were the best four seconds I’ve had in a long time. But hey, it's all in a day's work.
